10-2 wins for LP show Albay’s loyalty to President

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) — Albay has delivered its promised 10-2 victory for the Liberal Party senatorial slate in the recently concluded midterm polls – even surpassing the 9-3 national result – although efforts were sustained for a 12-0 win in the province to the very end, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

“To the very end, we campaigned for 12-0 in our sample ballot operations and in our house-to-house campaign although I predicted 10-2 in the context of several other factors, Salceda shared.

The governor said the 10-2 result was reminiscent of the Albay’s recorded 64% vote delivery for Aquino in 2010, the second highest in the country, next only to the President’s home province of Tarlac that delivered 71%. The record earned Albay the “second yellowest province” tag in the country.

“Albay wanted to demonstrate its loyalty to the President and help ensure his agenda gets legislative support. With this ‘second electoral EDSA revolution’, there is no alibi for this administration to fail because the people themselves ensured that the President will succeed and overcome all hurdles and constraints”, Salceda added.

While pursuing the 12-0 victory target, Salceda, who is LP regional chair for Bicol, earlier in the campaign implied a 10-2 victory for LP in Albay. Doubts about his party loyalty surfaced following his meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay in Legazpi City, along with three senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), as guest of the Daragang Magayon Festival.

The governor explained he was just being hospitable and respectful to Binay, being the country’s second highest official and who has no policy differences with the President except for the temporary political disruption brought by the elections.

“Actually, it would have been 11-1, were it not for re-electionist Bicolano Senator Honasan, Our ground troops were under extreme pressure after that Binay-Salceda issue, but we did not allow the controversy to undermine our resolve and efforts,” the governor explained.

Salceda also categorically denied having anything to do with the reported “6-5-1” senatorial sample ballot drive in Albay, pointing out that at the ripe stage of the campaign then “and with all the surveys showing a big win for the administration, it is politically foolish for a small provincial political player to swim against the tidal wave of popular support for the administration.” (PNA)